I asked for knowledge - power to control things;
I was granted understanding, to learn to love persons.
I asked for strength, to be a great man;
I was made weak, to become a better man.
I asked for wealth, to make friends;
I became poor, to keep friends.
I asked for all things, to enjoy life;
I was granted all life, to enjoy things.
I cried for pity;
I was offered sympathy.
I craved for healing of my own disorders;
I received insight into another's suffering.
I prayed to God for safety- to tread the trodden path;
I was granted danger, to lose track and find the Way.
I got nothing that I prayed for;
I am, among all men, richly blessed.
Anonymous: quoted by Mark Tully in "Something Understood"
Come join us to spruce up the meetinghouse. Bring your well labeled
painting equipment, ladders, rags and old clothes. Jobs can be found for
those not wanting to paint and for all energy levels.
Potluck lunch at noon!
Bring your good humour and let's have a fun working together. Letting
one of us know is helpful but not essential. Betty Flynn, Louise
Trepanier & Betty Preston
Title: Quaker Indictment
Elderly Quaker Elizabeth Elliot goes to visit a friend in central
Washington State. Her friend Reba, is convinced that the whole region is
contaminated with radioactive waste from the Hanford nuclear plant.
Together Elizabeth and Reba set out to gather evidence, but when Reba
gets caught on Hanford property, she gets taken in. Later that night, she
is found dead. Murdered on her front lawn. Elizabeth's Quaker beliefs are
put to the test as she along with Reba's friend Meghan, tries to uncover
the truth about the murder, and the truth about Hanford.
I enjoyed this book, though I think it was written for adults and older
teens. Kids may have a hard time reading it, because of the sophisticated
vocabulary. The reader, though probably not aware of it, learns a lot
about Quakerism and the testimonies through Elizabeth's actions and
thoughts, the book doesn't preach but gives the reader an example of a
devout Quaker to learn from. Elizabeth's Quaker values are tried when
Meghan decided to carry a gun for their safety against the people of
Hanford, as there had been attempts on their lives before. Elizabeth was
against this, but at the end she agreed, as long as it was only for
defending themselves. I would definitely recommend this book, as it is
very interesting, gripping and exciting all the way through. I would not
recommend it though to people who hate mysteries, because this book keeps
you guessing about the murderer right up to the final chapters!
You can find this book, along with two other Irene Allen mysteries,
Quaker Witness and Quaker Testimony in the meeting library!
We have been concerned for two years now over the prospects for the
continuation of the work done for many years by Hannah and Allen Newcomb,
with their Peace Research Institute Dundas (PRID). Hannah is
contemplating retirement, and asked for a Committee of Clearness.
Subsequently, PSAC has taken this concern on, in addition to the
Clearness Committee. We did not have among us, or find anyone prepared to
take on the work of PRID, and felt that we needed expert assistance to
find a future option. Irene Seay was asked to take this on, and has
dedicated herself to the project with considerable success. Cautious
optimism seems justified at this point. Since Irene had been without
employment for some time, PSAC was in unity that we allocate the $1000
of our donation budget to PRID, to pay Irene.
The HMM Ottawa Peace Delegation return visit has been tentatively
arranged for some day in February 2004, which is agreeable to Stephanie
Power at DFAIT. At Hannah's urging, our focus this time will be on
Canada's support of the UN work on the topic of the report by the
International Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty "The
Responsibility to Protect." In January we will announce a brown bag at
HMM for seeking more participation in this by HMM. During our December
meeting, Irene offered to be one of the delegates and PSAC approved this.
More recently Mona Aziz-Zamisa, an attender of HMM, has asked Dick to be
included.
We have held a monthly discussion group at the Meeting House. For several
evenings, we discussed the book The Emotional Life of Nations. For our
next meeting, Ray has prepared a discussion document. He also drafted a
document that we sent as a response to Rachel Brett of the Quaker United
Nations Office. Ray also reported for the Culture of Peace folks that a
first grant of $50,000 has been received for the Hamilton Safe Haven
project, and a staff person has been hired.
Insulating the Meeting House was brought as a concern to PSAC by Helen
Brink, and at the end of some rather rushed communications, HMM has
received a grant of $11,000 from the Rogers Trust, and Helen is making
arrangements with a contractor.
In response to Chuck Fager's fine talk last month at the Meeting House,
on how Friends can take on more effective long-term peace ministry, Ray
circulated his notes, and Dick circulated Chuck's written version. We
think there is excellent guidance there.
Tam is working on our initiatives to become known to newly elected
politicians in the Hamilton area, including a letter explaining our
request for a visit to new MPP Judy Marsales.
There are many other items on our agenda, including three ongoing and
probably long-term concerns:
Dear Friends,
Please read this and think about it before our next Meeting for Worship
for Business, when it will be on the agenda.
After first seasoning at the St. Lawrence Regional Gathering, and
further discussion at the last CFSC Meeting in Toronto, the following
statement is being presented to several Monthly Meetings, asking them to
consider supporting it. It was asked by CFSC that the four MMs
comprising St Lawrence Regional Gathering each consider supporting this
proposal. The proposal is also being considered by Yonge Street MM
because Gord Thompson from that meeting was at Regional Gathering and
shares his energy in seeing this go forward. I was at that Gathering
too and am excited by the idea that we could start making some positive
differences along these lines.
The following grew from a discussion group on supporting the United
Nations, led by David Jackman and Murray Thomson. Gord and I were both
in that group.
Quakers would like to join with other faith groups and NGOs across the
country to build an extended peace presence for Canada. This might take
several forms:
When this was discussed at CFSC Peace and National Concerns committee,
there was the suggestion to take this from CFSC/CYM to KAIROS, as they
were discussing something similar. This could bring in other churches,
and then proceed to NGOs.
Sybil Grace of Ottawa says: "Don Alexander, Bev Shepard. Caroline
Parry, David Jackman, Gord Thompson, Jenny Wright, Margaret Slavin,
Murray Thomson, Rose Mae Harkness, and Sue Hill... all expressed
interest at regional gathering with strong input from Don Alexander in
St Catharines, Bev Shepard in Hamilton, Gord Thompson of Yonge St MM.
Jenny Wright of Thousand Islands MM and Margaret Slavin of Peterborough
came in later. From Ottawa MM, David Jackman mc'd, Murray instigated
the discussion, Caroline, Rose Mae, Sue and myself were all interested.
Gord Thompson is committed to seeing the process go forward and is the
pivot of a listserve."
HMM is being asked by CFSC through Sybil and me to support the statement
that we need a stronger peace presence by Quakers in Canada as
exemplified in the suggestions given; I am asking Hamilton Friends to
consider getting involved in a revival of the Mothers' Day Peace
Walk.
Blood does not wipe our dishonor nor violence indicate possession. As men
have often forsaken the plow and the anvil at the summons of war, let
women now leave all that may be left of home for a great and earnest day
of counsel. Let them meet first, as women, to bewail and commemorate the
dead. Let them then solemnly take counsel with each other as to the
means whereby the great human family can live in peace, each bearing
after their own time the sacred impress, not of Caesar, but of God. In
the name of womanhood and of humanity, I earnestly ask that a general
congress of women without limit of nationality may be appointed and held
at some place deemed most convenient and at the earliest period
consistent with its objects, to promote the alliance of the different
nationalities, the amicable settlement of international questions, the
great and general interests of peace.
Julia Ward Howe
With the help of a core collection list from the Cadbury
Library of Philadelphia YM, we have a good start of additions to our
library. Here are 34 titles we don't have, all published in the 1990s,
which are highly recommended for a Meetinghouse library. (see
spreadsheet attached). If you have any of these and would like to donate
them to HMM, please see Ian G. or send me an email at
igraham6@cogeco.ca.
We can give a tax receipt for the fair market value of these books,
based on used book prices on the internet. It would help a lot if you
can check the price for your donations, using www.bookfinder.org. A
gift plate will be attached to each book, unless you prefer otherwise.
"Prayer from the heart can achieve what nothing else can in the world."
-- Mahatma Gandhi
Painting Bee at the MeetingHouse
Saturday, January 31st, 9 am - 4 pmFirst Day School Tobogganing
Assuming we have enough snow, the First Day School will be
tobogganing on the first Sunday in February. We will be tobogganing at
the Burlington municipal golf course on Tyandaga Park Drive (in
Burlington). We will meet at Siân Baker's house at 10:45.
Bring your sled if you have one, but we will happily share. There will
be hot chocolate and cookies after at Siân's. All Friends are welcome to
join us. For further information please contact Siân. Meeting for Worship for Business
Minutes of the Meeting for Worship for Business of 8 January 2004 can be
found here or on the newsletter page.Book Review
Submitted by Kelly Graham
Author: Irene AllenReport on Peace and Social Action Committee Work in 2003
Submitted by Dick PrestonAn Extended Peace Presence for Canada
Submitted by Bev Shepard
What is needed first is to build a strong support base for such ideas,
ensuring we have support among Quakers before reaching out to the
broader community.The Origins of Mother's Day
Many people don't know that Mother's Day was started after the Civil
War, as a protest against the carnage of that war, by women who had lost
their sons. Here is the original Mother's Day Proclamation from 1870:
Arise, then, women of this day! Arise all women who have
hearts, whether our baptism be that of water or of fears! Say firmly:
"We will not have great questions decided by irrelevant agencies. Our
husbands shall not come to us, reeking with carnage, for caresses and
applause. Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn all that we
have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience. We women of
one country will be too tender of those of another country to allow our
sons to be trained to injure theirs. From the bosom of the devastated
earth, a voice goes up with our own. It says "Disarm, Disarm! The sword
of murder is not the balance of justice."
Boston
1870
Request for Donated Books for Library
Submitted by Ian Graham